Page 23 of Since the Day We Wished

As Luke drove away, his grip tightened on the wheel. Flashing images of Jeremiah at the police station flooded his mind.

What if he gets into something he can’t get out of this time?

A wave of guilt crashed over him; his career had always come first, and now he was scrambling to be the father he should have been years ago. The world was a complicated place, fraught with dangers and temptations he knew all too well, and he wondered if he had already failed Jeremiah beyond repair.

Turning onto Main Street, his attention was drawn to the bustling activity of the townspeople, moving in an almost constant stream. After circling around the block a few times, he finally found a parking space in front of the salon. He stood in line for almost an hour, only to get a trim that took all of twenty minutes. But the hairdresser did a good job, and under her careful, practiced hand, his shaggy hair fell away from his face. Now with a fresh cut, he started to feel human again.

After leaving the salon, he looked up and down the street, catching sight of the ocean at the far end. Although he had lived in Hadley Cove for over a week now, he still hadn’t set foot on the beach. Slipping his car keys back in his pocket, he turned and headed toward the stretch of water, crossing the road on the way.

As Luke arrived at the entrance, he took off his shoes, feeling the warm sand beneath his feet, and fixed his gaze on the ocean waves lapping against the shore. Listening to the rustle of the palm fronds in the breeze, he soaked up this moment with no hurry—a luxury he hadn't often had back in Chicago.

Despite the number of people out and about in town, he noticed there was hardly anyone at the beach, except for a young family playing in the water nearby where he stood. Memories swept Luke away as he watched them, remembering how summer lake trips used to be a family ritual. Jeremiah would rush into the water, kicking up sprays of laughter, while Luke tried to keep up. Kate would be on the dock, camera in hand, capturing each precious second. Her voice, cheering them on, now played like a distant melody in his mind. He made a mental note to look for those photos, thinking it would be a good idea to frame some and put them around the house. Maybe, just maybe, they’d remind Jeremiah of happier times, of a family that once was.

Yanking him out of his daydream, Luke heard barking to his left. He turned and was pleasantly surprised by the sight of Riley and Emma walking down the beach toward him.

“Hey stranger!” Emma called out as she waved.

Grinning, Luke raised his hand in return. “Hey there!”

Riley pounced onto Luke’s leg, wagging his tail and licking his hand. Emma tugged on his leash.

“Sorry about that. I’ve never seen him take to someone so quickly before.”

Luke shrugged and squatted down to Riley’s level before reaching out to give him a scratch behind the ears. “No need to be sorry. He’s a good boy.”

“Most of the time he is.”Emma said, her eyes scanning the horizon before settling back on Luke, as if reluctant to ask the next question. “How’s Jeremiah doing?”

Luke stood, brushing sand off his pants. “Oh, he’s fine. He’s said a total of eight words to me since the big fight yesterday, so I think we’re making progress.”

“Baby steps. He’ll come around.” Emma offered an encouraging smile that seemed to say she had faith in the situation. “Listen, I was headed to grab lunch. If you’re not too busy, you should join us.”

“Sure. That sounds nice.”

***

As they stepped into Phil's Diner, Riley was greeted by some of the customers as if he were a celebrity, basking in his own small-town fame. Carried along by the warm welcome, Emma located an empty booth and took a seat while Luke slid into the spot across from her. Just then, Phil appeared with a plate of scrambled eggs.

“For the honored guest,” he said, placing the plate on the ground for Riley. “How are you folks today?”

“Pretty good,” Emma said. “We ran into Luke here on the beach and invited him to grab some lunch.”

“Well, you’ve come to the right place,” Phil assured them, wiping his hands on his apron as if preparing for a culinary masterpiece. “I’ll give y’all some time to decide what you want.”

As Phil walked away, Luke skimmed the menu, even though he was already familiar with it from his recent visits. Lifting his eyes, he caught Emma staring at him.

“What is it? Do I have something on my face?”

She shook her head. “Did you get a haircut?”

“Oh. Yeah, this morning. I didn’t realize the salon would be so busy.”

Emma chuckled. “Never go on Tuesdays. She books all her long-term clients then. You’ll eventually get in, but it’ll definitely be a while.”

Luke ran a hand over his newly shorn hair. “I’ll have to remember that. I’m not used to going out to get my haircut. Kate used to cut it at home for me.”

Emma gave him a pitiful look. “Oh, I’m sorry.”

Luke appreciated her words but wasn’t looking for sympathy. “It’s okay. She used to give both me and Jeremiah haircuts.”

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